Tell us a bit about yourself
The Nesbitt Centre (TNC) is a non-profit organization in Hong Kong which has been empowering adults with learning disabilities to live independently, to care, and advocate for themselves with the least amount of support since 1993. We create a welcoming and inclusive environment for our learners to engage their talents and integrate within the community.
What made you start your company?
For our learners, acquiring work and earning a livelihood is a big step towards greater independence, community integration, and personal fulfilment. Through TNC’s Preparation for Life programme, many of our learners are eventually able to find employment in our social enterprises, Cafe 8, The Nest, and The Nest Bakery, or in other partner institutions. Craftable was established in March 2021 to create an alternative work experience and to nurture the talents of our learners, especially our high support learners who have difficulty entering the workforce. Whenever customers buy our products, they are supporting our learners directly. For most of them, their first time to have work opportunity and earn a salary is through Craftable.
Tell me about your product and brand?
In Craftable, our learners’ incredible handmade crafts, including soy wax candles, coasters, and beeswax wraps, are showcased and sold. Due to their handmade nature, each product that customers receive is truly one of a kind. What sets our brand apart is that people with disabilities are at the heart of Craftable. Although our learners may take more time to make the products and need different levels of support from the staff, it is worthwhile to see their progress as they slowly master the steps of crafting the products.
In Craftable, their creativity is encouraged and nurtured. Our learners truly enjoy the process of creating and their finished products give them pride and fulfillment.
